Deloitte Digital acquires creative agency Acne

Firm aims to double the size of Acne’s team by 2020, with half of new hires in the UK;

Acne is the second digital business acquired by Deloitte since June.

Deloitte North West Europe today announces the acquisition of Acne, the award-winning European creative agency.*

Founded in 1996, Acne is an internationally acclaimed marketing house focusing on storytelling for brands. They offer creative, strategic, digital, film and photography services for a range of clients, particularly in the lifestyle and luxury retail sectors.

The agency’s executive chairman, Victor Press, and chief executive officer, David Olsson, will continue to lead the team under the Acne name. Acne will become part of Deloitte Digital, the firm’s creative digital consultancy.

Paul Thompson, head of Deloitte Digital for Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA), says: “The acquisition of Acne is an important move towards Deloitte Digital offering a full range of digital and creative services, with clients increasingly looking for a partner with multidisciplinary skills. We aim to deliver our clients’ ambitions, whether that be launching a new strategy, product or service. By combining Deloitte’s deep data and technological expertise, with Acne’s exceptional creative experience, together we will help build brands for the digital age.”

Victor Press, Executive Chairman of Acne, says: “Our clients are asking for a combination of data analysis and creativity. Deloitte Digital are best in class when it comes to digital and data enabled solutions. By combining this knowledge with our storytelling capabilities we believe that we will bring a highly relevant offering to the market.”

David Olsson, Managing Director of Acne, says: “Although Acne and Deloitte Digital come from different backgrounds with different skillsets, we share similar cultures and views on how to best address brands’ challenges today.”

As part of the move, Deloitte Digital will invest substantially in the business across North West Europe, including hiring approximately 80 new employees. This will double Acne’s current team to around 160 people, with 40 of these new hires based in the UK. Deloitte Digital has also appointed Andy Sandoz as a partner and chief creative officer (CCO), to help lead the team’s combined creative services in the UK.

Acne is the second creative deal that Deloitte has announced this summer, having announced the acquisition of Market Gravity, the proposition design consultancy, on 1st June 2017.

Richard Houston, managing partner for consulting at Deloitte North West Europe, says: “Following the successful addition of Market Gravity in the UK, Heat to our US firm and Mobiento in the Nordics, by joining forces with Acne we have the ability to roll out a greater set of creative consulting services across Deloitte North West Europe. We are thrilled to welcome Victor, David and the Acne team into the firm, and know our clients will be excited to start accessing the wealth of experience they have to offer.”

Deloitte North West Europe came into effect on 1st June 2017, and incorporates the UK, Switzerland, Belgium, Netherlands and the Nordics

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Note to editors

* On 15 August 2017, Deloitte LLP acquired all of the shares of Acne AB and its subsidiaries.

Acne’s work has been globally recognised and led to numerous awards in prestigious shows such as Cannes Lions, D&AD, One Club and New York Festivals. Some of Acne’s work has achieved “most viewed” status on YouTube and been listed on Adweek’s “best ads.”

About Deloitte
In this press release references to “Deloitte” are references to one or more of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited (“DTTL”) a UK private company limited by guarantee, and its network of member firms, each of which is a legally separate and independent entity. Please see deloitte.com/about for a detailed description of the legal structure of DTTL and its member firms.

Deloitte LLP is a subsidiary of Deloitte NWE LLP, which is a member firm of DTTL, and is among the UK's leading professional services firms.

The information contained in this press release is correct at the time of going to press.

Deloitte Digital has created a new model for a new age — a creative digital consultancy. That means bringing together all the creative and technology capabilities, business acumen and industry insight needed to help transform clients' businesses with digital. With Deloitte Digital's end-to-end capabilities, clients bring their greatest ambitions, knowing Deloitte Digital has what it takes to bring new business visions to life. Visit uk.deloittedigital.com or follow on Twitter @DeloitteDIGI_UK

About Acne

Today Acne is headquartered in Stockholm, with teams in London, Paris and Berlin. Acne is made up of a team of around 80 specialists within creative development, designers, strategists, technologists, film directors, illustrators, photographers and producers.

Deloitte LLP is the United Kingdom affiliate of Deloitte NWE LLP, a member firm of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, a UK private company limited by guarantee (“DTTL”), its network of member firms, and their related entities. DTTL and each of its member firms are legally separate and independent entities. Please see About Deloitte to learn more about our global network of member firms.

Deloitte LLP is a limited liability partnership registered in England and Wales with registered number OC303675.